PLACES

Ancient peaks of azure stone stretch northward along the western edge of Middle-earth, where Dwarven lords once carved magnificent halls beneath the mountains. These legendary heights sheltered both the craftsmen of Belegost and the warriors of Nogrod, witnessed the earliest days of Beleriand, and later became the refuge of Durin's Folk after the fall of Khazad-dûm. From the First Age to the Third, these mighty mountains stood as silent guardians of countless stories, sacred relics, and the last memories of the sunken lands beyond.

At the Mouths of Sirion, where the great river met the Belegaer, stood the last refuge of the Free Peoples of Beleriand. This coastal haven sheltered the survivors of fallen kingdoms, including the legendary mariner Eärendil and his wife Elwing, keeper of the Silmaril. From these shores, hope would rise on white wings and sail west to Valinor, forever changing the fate of Middle-earth.

Hidden within the encircling mountains of Tumladen, a magnificent Elven realm stood as the last great fortress against the dark powers of the First Age. For nearly 400 years, white towers gleamed in secret while King Turgon ruled from his Tower of the King, and mighty lords like Glorfindel and Ecthelion guarded its seven gates. Though betrayal would eventually lead to its doom, this shining city of the Noldor remained unconquered longer than any other realm in Beleriand, its fall marking one of the most heroic and tragic tales in all of Middle-earth's history.

Beneath the eternal golden leaves of mallorn trees, where time stands still and magic flows like starlight, lies the most mysterious elven realm of Middle-earth. Here, the Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn rule from their shimmering city of Caras Galadhon, where ancient wisdom meets ethereal beauty. This enchanted forest, where golden flowers bloom in winter and elven songs echo through the centuries, stands as the last true haven of the Galadhrim, preserving the ancient magic of the Elder Days.

On the eastern borders of the Shire lies an ancient woodland where hobbits dare not wander, where trees whisper dark secrets and move of their own accord. Within these shadowy depths dwells Old Man Willow, paths shift treacherously, and forgotten magic from the Elder Days still holds sway. This mysterious realm, older than the Shire itself, stands as a reminder that not all forests in Middle-earth are merely collections of trees – some are conscious, willful, and harbor powers from ages long past.

A majestic fortress of white marble once gleamed with moonlight in the Mountains of Shadow, standing proud as Gondor's eastern guardian. Built by Isildur himself, this Tower of the Moon protected the realm for over a thousand years before falling to the Nazgûl. What began as a beacon of hope transformed into a place of terror - Minas Morgul, where the Witch-king ruled and evil festered at Mordor's gates.

Rising solitary above the eastern wilds, a majestic peak holds within its depths the greatest dwarven stronghold of the Third Age. Home to the legendary Arkenstone, vast halls of carved stone, and riches beyond measure, this ancient kingdom of Durin's Folk stood as a testament to dwarven craftsmanship until a fire-drake from the North changed everything. From Thrór's prosperous reign to Thorin Oakenshield's legendary quest to reclaim his homeland, the saga of the Lonely Mountain encompasses glory, tragedy, and ultimate redemption.

Nestled in the northwest of Middle-earth lies a peaceful realm of rolling hills, cozy hobbit-holes, and lush farmlands. This green country, where hobbits tend their gardens, enjoy multiple meals, and live their quiet lives, has spawned some of the greatest heroes in all of Middle-earth. From Bag End to Brandywine Bridge, from the Party Tree to the Green Dragon Inn, this pastoral paradise of thatched roofs and round doors represents everything that the free peoples fought to protect during the Third Age.

Rising from the depths of the Great Sea, a star-shaped island kingdom gifted to the noble Edain by the Valar themselves became the mightiest realm of Men in all of Arda. For 3,319 years, the Dúnedain of Westernesse built gleaming cities, mastered the arts of shipcraft and lore, and extended their influence across Middle-earth—until pride, fear of death, and the whispers of Sauron led to their catastrophic downfall. This paradise of the Faithful, home to great kings like Tar-Aldarion and Tar-Minastir, would sink beneath the waves in the greatest cataclysm since the drowning of Beleriand, forever changing the shape of the world.

In the windswept highlands of Hithlum, nestled between the towering Ered Wethrin and the fertile plains of Beleriand, stood the mighty realm of Dor-lómin. Home to the golden-haired House of Hador and birthplace of the tragic hero Túrin Turambar, this northern fortress-land witnessed both the height of Edain glory and the crushing darkness of Morgoth's dominion. From its stalwart defenders who rode with the Union of Maedhros to the bitter fate of its people under Easterling rule, Dor-lómin's tale weaves through the greatest triumphs and sorrows of the First Age.

Carved into the banks of the River Narog, a magnificent underground fortress-city stood as the greatest hidden realm of the First Age. Founded by the wise Finrod Felagund, this mighty stronghold housed thousands of Noldorin Elves, witnessed the tragic tale of Túrin Turambar, and safeguarded powerful secrets beneath its countless halls. Yet despite its concealed bridges and impenetrable gates, neither the power of its Elven-king nor the valor of its warriors could prevent its ultimate destruction when the great dragon Glaurung brought fire and ruin to its depths.

Deep beneath the Misty Mountains lies the greatest mansion of the Dwarven race—a vast network of halls, mines, and bridges carved into living rock. This legendary realm, dubbed Moria by the Elves, housed the precious mithril mines and saw the crafting of mighty artifacts like the Doors of Durin. For millennia, the Longbeards of Durin's Folk dwelt in these grand halls until the fateful awakening of Durin's Bane, a fearsome Balrog of Morgoth, forced them to abandon their ancestral home. Now, echoes of its former glory remain in stories, songs, and the treacherous paths that the Fellowship of the Ring once walked.

Along the blessed shores of Eldamar, where pearl-strewn beaches glisten beneath the light of the Two Trees, stands a haven of unmatched beauty. Here, master shipwrights craft vessels in the likeness of swans, their silver sails catching the light of stars. But this peaceful port, home to the musical Teleri Elves, would become the site of the First Kinslaying - a tragic moment that stained the white quays with blood and forever changed the destiny of the Noldor.

Rising from the ashen plains of Mordor, this volcanic mountain of destiny towers as both forge and destroyer of ultimate power. Within its molten heart, the Dark Lord Sauron crafted his master Ring, and in its searing flames, two small hobbits would ultimately determine the fate of Middle-earth. From its first violent eruption in the Second Age to its final cataclysmic destruction, this fearsome peak has burned its way into legend as the crucible of Middle-earth's greatest struggle between good and evil.

Deep in the northern reaches of Valinor stood an imposing fortress where the greatest craftsman of the Noldor, his seven sons, and his father the High King dwelt in exile. Within its mighty walls, the legendary Silmarils were kept under guard, until the day darkness fell upon the Blessed Realm and Morgoth, the Great Enemy, unleashed terror upon this stronghold, forever changing the fate of the Elves.

Beyond the Sundering Seas, in the Blessed Realm of Aman, lies a paradise untouched by death or decay. Here, beneath the light of the Two Trees that once illuminated all creation, the Valar shaped their perfect kingdom of Valinor. This sacred realm, home to immortal Elves and divine beings alike, stands as a beacon of eternal beauty where the mighty Taniquetil reaches toward the stars, and the halls of Manwë and Varda gleam with undimmed splendor. While hidden from mortal eyes, its influence echoes throughout all of Tolkien's mythology, from the ancient Songs of Creation to the final departure of the Ring-bearers.